[b]"Go ahead to the kitchen, boys, I've to collect up these pieces"[/b] sighed Heltroph, carefully brushing the icy shards up with his paw. 

Heltroph had lived in Glacefloe longer than anyone. He'd watched the town grow from a tiny fort into a thriving little trading town yet insisted on living on the edge of town in an ancient stone cottage, built long before even he'd arrived there. As Pontus and Froad stepped inside, they saw how small it truly was. They were stood in a tiny, damp hallway, with a door leading off to the side and an open doorway ahead of them. Behind old, cheap paintings and an empty bookshelf (which had presumably held Heltrophs 'Glalie Ice'd Custom Plates' just moments before) the flowery wallpaper peeled, revealing the plaster behind. The floor was bare concrete and sent a chill up Pontus' spine as tip-toed around the icy shards that littered the floor.

The front door groaned shut behind them as Team Rune stepped straight ahead into Heltrophs' kitchen, which took up almost 2/3rds of the entire building.

It seemed the concept of a "kitchen" had been lost on the old Stoutland, as his own served as a dining room, a storeroom, a living room, a bedroom and a larder. Berry skins, cupboard, chests, bookshelves, rugs, treasures of every description, trinkets and paintings lined the walls and covered almost every available surface. The only light and heat source in the entire house came from a lit fireplace, stained black with ash yet crackling merrily. The corners were dark and probably held more of Heltrophs treasures. A pot filled with a thick broth bubbled over it and filled the room with an inviting smell.

Pontus glanced at Froad, an eyebrow raised. [colour=f7941d]"Wonder what he keeps in all these chests. Maybe I was wrong about 'im, y'know"[/colour] murmured the Monferno. He could barely contain his curiosity with all these closed chests and treasures sitting around. Where had Heltroph gotten them all? Pokemon around Glacefloe often waved him off as an old has-been, who screamed obscenities and told exaggerated stories of his youth. Team Rune had generally agreed with that consensus but now, Pontus wasn't so sure. Maybe all those stories weren't just stories...

[b]"Careful, these things hurt like a BITCH"[/b] cackled Heltroph, hurrying past the explorers with a collection of shards held in a handkerchief. He dived into a pile of chests and dug around in them, the pile of shards hanging precariously from his mouth.

[colour=8dc73f]"Maybe y'were wrong about him"[/colour] said Froad snarkily, dropping the Wonder Bag beside the doorway.

[b]"Sit down, boys, there's room by the fire"[/b] yapped Heltroph, closing the chest and bounding over to the fire. He seemed excited to have visitors. The Stoutland hoarder had made a path through all the junk that led to the grimy window on the back wall and back around to the fire. Pontus and Froad picked there way through all the crap and hopped onto a rug by the fire. Heltroph placed the bag of shards beside the fire and got to work on the broth that was cooking in the pot.

[b]"HOLY SHIT! You're very quiet!"[/b] boomed the Stoutland, looking up from the pot. The reality of the situation had come crashing down on Team Ruin and they both stared glumly into the fire. [colour=8dc73f]"Yeah, we've 'ad a busy evening"[/colour] grunted Froad. Pontus hugged his knees and didn't reply, his jaw clenching slightly. [b]"What happened?"[/b] asked Heltroph curiously, stirring the broth in the pot with a adle.

[colour=f7941d]"There was...a fight. With a Fed. Our boss, I suppose. I punched him. Turns out we've been put into an early retirement and left out of an expedition out here. And then our house fell down. I think we're probably going to be sent back home or lose our pension or something"[/colour] replied Pontus finally, sighing deeply. Heltroph burst out laughing.

[b]"OH MY GOD! RETIRED! I just thought you were two just shit!"[/b] cackled Heltroph. The Stoutland's laugh was deep and came straight from his stomach. The 'retired' explorers didn't return his laugh and stared at the ground in embarrassment. Pontus was silently seething at the audacity of this old coot but kept his mouth shut. After Heltroph had finished laughing at their misfortune, he wiped the tear from his eye.

[b]"Woooo, did you say an expedition? Into the wastes?"[/b] asked the Stoutland, his head turning. Froad nodded. Pontus stared into the fire, lost in thought. He just wanted this night to end so he could face his punishment in the morning. [b]"That reminds me of an expedition I went on years ago"[/b] began Heltroph. Froad groaned. One of Heltrophs infamous stories from his exploring days.

[b]"This was a bit before I retired. Voluntarily, I might add" [/b] he began, giving a toothy grin. [b]"Back when I was a Herdier, I was out there in the White Forest. The great Explorer, Saltire, was sponsoring an expedition into the wastelands outside of Glacefloe and said that anyone who found the treasure would get a huge cut out of it. This was back before the Federation was SHIT. Back before they'd take it all off of you! Anyway, I was in White Forest. It was snowing - it always is, out there - and it was cold. So cold. Colder than any winter I've spent out here since. I'd been crunching through the snow and I was doing well. I think I was further than any other Explorer had gone at the time. I hadn't seen anyone else for a few days, I'd gotten cut off from the main group. It was so quiet. Sound gets swallowed up by the snow, you know"[/b] said Heltroph, his voice growing soft. Froad and Pontus were hanging on to every word carefully.

[b]"But then, HOLY SHIT!"[/b] barked Heltroph suddenly, throwing the ladle from the pot into the air and making the pair jump in surprise. [b]"A GIANT ICE MONSTER FLEW STRAIGHT OVER MY HEAD, SCREECHING! CAWWWWWK! CAWWK! SCREEEEEEEE! A BEAM OF SHITTING ICE WAS COMING OUT OF ITS MOUTH, FREEZING TREES AND PLANTS WHERE THEY STOOD! I jumped outta the way just in time. It was taunting me, daring me to attack. But the beast hadn't heard of Heltroph, the GREATEST Normal-type explorer to ever set foot in White Forest! I wasn't about to back down from a challenge, NOT THIS TIME! I grabbed onto the birds leg and WOOSH! HOLY SHIT! I was flying above the trees, holding onto this giant birds leg! It was trying to shake me off but HELTROPH WASN'T HAVING NONE OF THAT SHIT!" [/b] roared the Stoutland, globs of spittle hitting Froad and Pontus in the face. They were too enthralled to care. [b]"I roared at it, 'I'M NOT HAVING THIS SHIT, FIGHT ME ON THE GROUND LIKE A REAL POKEMON' and used Bite on its leg. I wasn't letting go, oh no-siree! It was screaming again! CAWWWWK! CAWWWK!" [/b]screeched Heltroph, jumping to his feet and mimicking the flying Ice Monster.

Pontus and Froad hadn't replied at all, drool forming at the edges of their mouths and their eyes glassed over. They were still listening intently but the pure awesome-sauce of this story blowing their minds. 

[b]"That SON OF A BITCH eventually landed in a clearing in the forest. I knew I'd almost beaten it. It's ARCEUS-DAMMNED LEG WAS BROKEN AND IT WAS LIMPING on the ground. We had our final showdown in that clearing. We fought for hours in that FUCKING clearing. EXPLORER VS BEAST, CIVILISATION AGAINST BARBARITY, POKEMON VS DIGIMON. There was ice everywhere, I was steaming, panting and throwing everything I could at it! Eventually though, I overcame it, my jaws were around its blue throat and I was ready to take the final blow when it begged for forgiveness. It screeched, promising all the riches in the world, TREASURE BEYOND MY WILDEST DREAMS, if only I'd let it go!"[/b]

Heltroph was panting now. Just remembering such a fight had him on edge and he was practically screaming into the hypnotised faces of Pontus and Froad. He grinned to himself before continuing. He rarely got to told stories like this. [b]"So I shouted into its face, 'WHAT TREASURE? TELL ME!' and it did"[/b] said Heltroph, a smug smile on his face.

[colour=8dc73f]"Wot 'appened then, Mr. Heltroph?[/colour]" whispered a starry eyed Froad

[b]"I'll tell you, my boy! That SON OF A BITCH was tricking me! As soon as I let my guard down, he froze me in a block of ice!"[/b]

[colour=f7941d]"No!"[/colour] gasped Pontus.

[b]"YES!"[/b] boomed Heltroph.

[colour=8dc73f]"No!"[/colour] gasped Froad.

[b]"YES!"[/b] screeched Heltroph.

[b]"It got me! Luckily, I used Rest just as the ice overcame my head and stayed alive until some Pokemon of an Ice tribe found me 24 days later. BUT ONLY JUST! During the weeks in that block of ice, I started to go a little bit crazy. I'm okay now, I'm just a little scarred!"[/b] laughed the Pokemon who had been doing bird-monster impressions for the last 10 minutes.

[b]"The ice all melted away quite easily but I was so cold, the Ice Tribals took me back to their village in the White Forest. There, they nursed me back to health and looked after me for two weeks. They showed me all kinds of recipes, tips on surviving in the Icy Wastes, their history and so much more. When I told them I'd been attacked by a flying Ice monster, they told me I was lucky to be alive! Such a creature lived on top of Mt. Glace or as we call it, Mt. DeBlanc, and was preyed on Pokemon it believed were not supposed to be there. I wasn't allowed near the mountain, they said it was a sacred place and dangerous for Pokemon from "across the great water". I think a monastery was built inside it or some kind of religious thing, I dunno, I didn't want to annoy them. Anyway, soon it was time for me to go. The Ice Tribe gifted me two plates from the mountain temple, saying they were special items and escorted me back to Glacefloe. I promised I'd be back to meet them some day and return the favour but during the summer, the Federation signed a treaty with the Ice Tribes outside Glacefloe and all explorers were banned from leaving the town or going near the Ice Tribes. They didn't want criminals meddling with them, I suppose. I do miss them. And now my Glalie Ice'd Custom Plates, made especially for me, are broken, I have nothing to remember them by"[/b] sighed Heltroph, falling heavily beside the fire. Just telling such an epic tale had exhausted him.

The old Stoutland's voice was strained from talking for so long and he took a sip of water from his bowl. Team Rune were both silent, absorbing Heltrophs epic story. 

[hr]

[colour=f7941d]"Were they worth much?"[/colour] asked Pontus, breaking the silence. Froad nudged him, warning him to shut his mouth. [b]"OH NO! They were worth a bit because the merchant said he liked the footprint ruins around the edges and he'd take them off my hands for some shitty amount. I wouldn't sell them anyway, though, they had too much value to me. He said there were thousands of Custom Plates like this one floating around, they're not worth much but he really wanted to take them. I didn't tell him where I got them either"[/b] shrugged Stoutland, slowly pulling himself to his feet and fetching the ladle to test the broth.


[colour=f7941d]"Yeah, a shame. Sorry they broke or whatever"[/colour] yawned Pontus, stretching his arms. [colour=8dc73f]"Can I see 'em a minute?" [/colour] asked Froad, reaching for the bag of shards. Heltroph nodded, a grimace forming at his mouth. Froad opened up the bag and carefully pulled out a shard. It was pointed and cold, yet clear as glass. But it wasn't glass. It felt far too slippery to be glass. Something had been carved into that certain shard and the Politoed squinted at it, holding it closer to his eye. 

Something clicked in his mind.

[colour=8dc73f]" 'Old on, these ain't footprint ruins"[/colour] frowned Froad. [colour=f7941d]"You what?"[/colour] replied Pontus, sitting up to look at it. Froad took out another shard and examined the symbol etched into it. [colour=8dc73f]"These aren't footprint ruins. I read 'em, remember? These definitely aren't footprint ruins. I can't even recognise 'em.[/colour]" said Froad, taking out more shards and examining the ones that had symbols etched into them. Pontus shrugged. He could barely read Unknown, the normal script, let alone ancient Footprint Ruins. 

[colour=f7941d]"So what? The merchant lied, they do it all the time"[/colour] yawned Pontus again, stretching his arms wide.  

Froad's brow was furrowed as he thought. Something wasn't right. Why were tribes on the other side of the world writing in footprint ruins, the ancient language of the Federation? Why were they making "custom plates", usually collected by nerds in the Federation? And why was the merchant so insistent on taking them off of Heltroph if they weren't worth much?

Holy shit. It all made sense.

[colour=8dc73f]" I think these plates are worth more than t'merchant said they were. This ain't footprint ruins, this looks like some language I can't recognise. This is treasure from the Wastes"[/colour] said Froad, his hands shaking as he dropped the shards back into the bag. [colour=f7941d]"It's bloody broke, innit? What's a bag of shards worth to anyone?" [/colour] dismissed Pontus, getting himself comfortable beside the fire. 

Froad's palm slapped his forehead. How could Pontus be so short-sighted sometimes? [colour=8dc73f]"Nah, ye dense eejit. If this was made in t'wastes and is worth something, it means there's more of 'em out there, also worth something! Heltroph mentioned a bloody temple! I bet there's more treasure in there! And there's a fuckin' expedition headin' out there in a few weeks, out to find treasure to make some fat-fuckin'-cabbage!"[/colour] replied Froad, his voice shaking from excitement. 

The change of expression on Pontus' face was faster than a Gallade on coke. He slowly sat up and smiled widely. 

[colour=f7941d]"You big, green genius"[/colour] croaked the Monferno, feeling his heart beginning to pound. 

[b]"HOLY SHIT, YOU'RE RIGHT!"[/b] shouted Heltroph suddenly, making the explorers (and the ladle in his paw) jump again. [colour=f7941d]"We're in shit with the Federation anyway. We could just go and-"[/colour][colour=8dc73f]"Take t'treasure before they get to it!"[/colour] finished Froad, practically bouncing with excitement.

[colour=f7941d]"How could we get away with it, though? I'm sure Gala and Team Rhinestone are going to come knocking around 'ere tomorrow, looking for us. We can't prepare an expedition in a few hours!"[/colour] said Pontus, dampening the mood slightly. [b]"YES, YOU CAN!"[/b] barked Heltroph. [b]"I have loads of shit around here you can take! I'm not using it!"[/b]. Before giving the explorers a chance to speak, he'd already bounded off into piles of chests and began collecting useful items. Pontus grinned at Froad. 

[colour=f7941d]"Maybe things won't be so bad, mate"[/colour] he said, slapping his partner on the back. [colour=f7941d]"We'll get going in a few hours, before those idiots come banging the door down"[/colour]. [b]"I can keep them busy for you!"[/b] shouted Heltroph from the other side of the room, digging inside a chest. He seemed to be struggling to pull something out of the chest, so Pontus jumped up and began to assist him. 

A smile pulled at Froads lips. Earlier, things had seemed bad. Really bad. Like, prison-bad. But now, a ray of hope was throwing it's rope in their direction and they were going to grab it with both hands. Sure, they might piss off the Federation, they might end up in prison or they might even end up dead. But what did they have to lose? For months, they'd lived in freezing squalor, hoping they Federation hadn't forgotten about them and living off whatever meager Poke they were sent. But now was there chance to actually do something with their lives and not fuck up. When they got the plates - or whatever goddamned treasure they could find out there - they would sell it all, raise enough money to clear their names and retire comfortably somewhere.

Because there wasn't anything left in Glacefloe worth trying to salvage anymore. They'd wasted far too much time pretending to be famous explorers. Now was the time to be actually become famous explorers.

[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh566UB5fYs][centre][b]--END OF PROLOGUE--[/B][/centre][/url]